CHAPTER 18: CLEROAD

"So," I said, striking up a very casual conversation between players, "have you decided on a long-term class yet? From Ranger you can go for Assassin and Shadow Dweller which I don’t know fits your vibe."

"Oh, I haven’t yet!" She chirped, "I figured I’d just try everything out and go with what feels right."

"Oh, yeah. Try everything, that’s one way to do it," I nodded like I actually agreed. "...until all the good class slots for every parties are full. Then you’ll have to spend weeks grinding alone because no one needed that, and even if they do, they’ll choose someone better than you which are dime a dozen, definitely a choice."

Her smile faltered, which brought me a sliver of joy.

I continued, twisting the knife without touching the blade. "It’s just, y’know~... parties these days are kind of desperate for certain roles. But I’m sure you’ll find a group eventually."

"What kind of roles?" she asked, that same sweet clueless tilt in her voice, "Do I really need a party to play this game?"

I shrugged. "Oh, nothing important... Like... healing, buffs, revives. You know, the kind of stuff nobody wants to do but everyone needs. But hey, you do you, it’s your adventure, you don’t exactly need a party. "

She tilted her head to a comical angle, almost 45 degrees.

"I heard about this Elementalist class. But the quests looked kinda hard..."

"Yeah," I nodded sympathetically, "Mages are super glassy when going alone. You’d be like a walking target. It can be quite frustrating, y’know? All that dying. But again, you do you."

She wilted.

Honestly, it was too easy, mufwehehe... Passive aggressively coercing someone like Hailie was like playing chess against a toddler who thinks the bishop moves in circles.

I turned away, faking a casual sigh, "It’s just a little sad, is all."

"What is?" She hastily asked.

"Nothing, just thought maybe we could’ve gone exploring together, maybe we’ll join a guild together, but it’ll be awkward if only one of us gets pick because... Usefulness."

"Oh."

Silence, the crowded, bustling street noises seemed to have fade out.

Of course, I feel bad for, what’s the word? Guilt tripping? But this was probably the best and most effective way to get someone who didn’t know what they’re doing to be useful. If I didn’t do this, she’ll probably get bored of the game real soon from being useless

"...What if I became a healer? What’s that called?"

I looked back at her, giving the best Oscar-worthy shocked and amazed face I could muster.

"The easiest one now is a Cleric... But like, you’d do that? Heal for a bunch of strangers?"

She straightened bravely:

"Oh, right, yeah! I want to help!" She giggled, flinging both hands into the air, "I guess I’m not super great at aiming bows anyway, and if people need healing, that’s sort of like... can help me make friends?"

"Exactly, clerics are quite the backbone of this world." I nodded solemnly, cranking out a smile that vibed with her, "And it’ll go well with me, too, if you don’t mind being seen near me. I’m planning to be a Squire, basically a frontline vanguard."

And Hailie’s eyes sparkled.

If I reached out now and said "bark," she probably would’ve done so before asking.

"Perfecta! I love the sound of that, Cleric! I should head to the Cathedral then, right?" she started jumping up and down, though only figuretively, but I swear she was close to doing it literally.

The bright girl added, "I read about that place in the handbook! I think there’s a blonde nun that’ll give you a quest?"

Ah yes, Daleyn, one of the hottest and sexiest character that you couldn’t marry in Darkmoon Adventure PC... Because she was one of those NPC only made to give quests and nothing more.

In the VR version, they actually made it so that she was completely devoted to one of the gods of this world. She would rather get kidnapped by a hillbilly and drag across mud for 3 ingame days without food and water, than to marry someone that her god didn’t approve.

I would know, I am the said hillbilly.

Back to Hailie.

I pointed towards the general direction of the Cathedral, and as soon as she was out of earshot, I exhaled sharply and leaned back to look at the sky.

"Muwfehehe."

Having a dumb, genuine, questionably-but-probably-competent meat-shield of a human in my hand felt like holding a Willy Wonka’s golden ticket. She was disgustingly loyal, naive, and emotionally open. But that just proved to me that she could be useful if I play my cards right.

The best part? She thought this was all her idea~

"Good girl, now go put on your white robes and pray." I whispered sadistically, of course, not out loud enough for her to hear without a spying spell.

And then...

As we began to walk, she suddenly turn back to me, still keeping that bright, innocent smile:

"Oh my! It’s time for my lever harp lesson." She said.

"Huh?" I answered.

"We’ll play tomorrow if you’re online around this time! I’ll get plenty more play time in the near future when I finish my chess class and perfume making class!"

"Wait-"

"Goodbye, Cory, love you!"

"... But."

Hailie has logged off.

"Fuck." I groaned, "Fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk."

Great, I’ve been online for like, what? few hours? Now I got nothing to do for the next twenty four while waiting for her to come online?

Or maybe I could just get someone else to do the quest and block Hailie.

But... Would that mean sacrificing the titties from both her and Eirlys?

Fuck fuck fuck fuck

Fucking ass shit bitches.

erbJREWBHRWGWRHwr/wrj

Oh the dilemma of mankind.